Let's Salsa/Bailemos Salsa (English and Spanish Edition) - Hardcover

Ruiz-Flores, Lupe

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1558857621 ISBN 13: 9781558857629

Publisher: Arte Publico Press, 2013

Synopsis

Estella can't help but giggle when she sees her neighbors, Dona Rosa and Dona Maria, shaking their hips while dancing and sweating at an exercise class at the community recreation center. A few days later, when her mother complains about gaining weight, Estella encourages her to join the class.

Every day after school, Estella enjoys watching the women dance to the rhythmic music. And she's especially thrilled when the instructor invites her to join them in dancing salsa.

But one day, kids are banned from the class, and Estella is forced to go to a boring crafts class instead. She'd much rather be dancing! So when Estella learns that women had to fight to gain the right to vote, she decides she'll petition for kids' rights to enjoy salsa dance classes at the community center!

In this bilingual picture books for children ages 5-9, a young girl learns that dancing is good for fun and fitness, and that even kids can change the way things are done.

About this title

About the Author

LUPE RUIZ-FLORES is the author of several bilingual children's books: Lupita's Papalote / El papalote de Lupita, The Woodcutter's Gift / El regalo del lenador, The Battle of the Snow Cones / La guerra de las raspas and Alicia's Fruity Drinks / Las aguas frescas de Alicia. She lives and works in San Antonio, Texas.
ROBERT CASILLA was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to parents from Puerto Rico. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He has illustrated many multicultural children's books, including The Little Painter of Sabana Grande, Jalapeño Bagels, The Legend of Mexicatl and First Day in Grapes. He has also illustrated a number of biographies, including ones about Martin Luther King, Jr.; John F. Kennedy; Eleanor Roosevelt; Rosa Parks; Jackie Robinson; Jesse Owens and Simon Bolivar.

Every day after school, Estella enjoys watching the women dance to the rhythmic music. And she's especially thrilled when the instructor invites her to join them in dancing salsa. "Salsa? That's what it's called? I thought salsa was to eat with chips!"

But one day, kids are banned from the class, and Estella is forced to go to a boring crafts class instead. She'd much rather be dancing! So when Estella learns that women had to fight to gain the right to vote, she decides she'll petition for kids' rights to enjoy salsa dance classes at the community center!

In this bilingual picture book for children ages 5-9, a young girl learns that dancing is good for fun and fitness, and that even kids can change the way things are done.

Reviews

Estela likes watching the salsa dance class at the community rec center. She encourages her mother to attend, and Mami finally does, which allows Estela to join the class as well. Then, one day, a notice appears that says dance class is only for adults. Estela is crushed, but when her school teacher discusses using petitions to change rules, she gets an idea. Sure enough, in a few weeks, she has gotten friends and neighbors to sign a petition asking for children’s salsa dance classes at the rec center, which she presents to the mayor. Soon the kids in the neighborhood are dancing, and Estela has learned a lot about both salsa and getting things done. The text appears in both English and Spanish, and soft watercolors capture Estela’s excitement about doing new things. Some of the story is adultcentric, but Estela’s enthusiasm carries the day. Grades 1-3. --Ilene Cooper

Edition details

• Publisher: Arte Publico Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1558857621
• ISBN 13: 9781558857629
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Casilla Robert
• Number of pages: 32